We are thrilled to announce that the Ellis Townhomes are finalists in the 8th Edition of the Southern Interior Construction Association Commercial Building Awards, celebrating the best of commercial and industrial construction in the Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenay regions from Kamloops to Osoyoos, and from Fernie to Revelstoke.

We look forward to hearing the winner announced at this years awards ceremony held in Kelowna on October 27th, 2016

These gorgeous fir full lite doors with transoms have been manufactured with care at Tundra and are ready for install in the entrances of the homes at Five on Wilson.

Check out out the website www.fiveonwilson.com to find out more information about this exciting new development. And register today for your tailored package including pricing, plans and specifications.

Penticton’s first example of cluster housing is moving ahead, despite some opposition at the Sept. 8 public hearing to the number of variances required to squeeze five homes onto a property currently occupied by a single home.

Council approved a zoning amendment in July to allow cluster housing, a group of three or more homes sharing amenity areas on a single parcel.

Neighbours protesting the development at 2922 Wilson St. said they weren’t opposed to densifying the area, but were concerned about the variances and the style of the buildings.

“It’s an abrupt change from what is there now. There aren’t these postmodern structures,” said Angela Cormano, representing her parents who live in the neighbourhood and own a second property immediately adjacent to 2922 Wilson St.

“By all means rezone it to RM2, but then respect the planning setbacks and guidelines that are in place,” said Corman. “My parents are not against densifying the neighbourhood and having new types of housing in there.”

In order to proceed, the developers were asked to reduce the setbacks on two sides of the property and increase the density substantially.

The concept of variances was not intended to be used to densify lots, argued Cormano, who found a supporter in Coun. Campbell Watt.

“As much as I would agree with changing the zoning, I don’t agree with variances for size,” said Watt.

Coun. Judy Sentes was concern about safety aspects of the development, which has three of the units opening onto a back lane.

“We are always looking to densify, but I think we have to be responsible about that densification,” said Sentes. “I just have concerns that even though we are supporting the new concept of cluster housing, would we be overpopulating the property?”

A first motion, that council approve the rezoning, but not the variances needed for the project to go ahead, was defeated four to three, with Coun. Watt, Tarik Sayeed and Max Picton voting in favour.

“I really think this is a big change for that neighbourhood, but I think it is an enhancement,” said Konanz. “We are told constantly we need more densification in this city in order for our housing to become more affordable.”

Despite her earlier concerns about safety and overpopulating the property, Sentes moved to approve the rezoning and the variances.

“I think this council has passed an intent to allow cluster housing. I think this is a good example of that,” said Sentes. The motion passed four to three, with Sayeed, Picton and Watt opposed.

Penticton city council has approved a multi-family strata project for Wilson Street.

Following a public hearing and debate among councilors Tuesday, the project was approved in a split decision.

The property at 2922 Wilson Street, which currently features one single-family house, will be redeveloped with one duplex building facing Wilson Street and one single-family dwelling and a duplex facing the lane.

There will be five units in total, each with a floor area of 1,486 square feet consisting of three bedrooms and enclosed garage.

At the public hearing, several neighbours aired concerns about a lack of parking, a congested laneway, garbage collections, potential flooding, reduced sunlight and lack of communication with the developer.

Henry Kasper, an 83-year-old resident of the neighbourhood, complained he did not receive a letter in the mail and that he wasn't receiving "adequate" answers from council.

"Why is planning so anxious to rezone things when they don't need to?," he asked.

Angela Cormano, speaking on behalf of her parents, provided council with a nine-page letter of objection, the main point being the homes will be too close to the property lines.

Developer Joe Walters said each unit will have a garage and a second vehicle will have room to park in the driveway. He said flooding concerns have been answered and that he spoke with three of the residents who believe the new property will be more aesthetically pleasing than the present home.

City planner Blake Laven said the bylaw requirement is being met with respect to parking. He agreed there's more driveway space at the front of the complex than in the lane, but noted, "They have a significant amount of green space on the project that they could squeeze in some extra parking if that was a requirement."

A motion by Coun. Campbell Watt to approve the rezoning but limit the project to four units lost by a 4-3 vote with Max Picton and Tarik Sayeed voting in support.

In turn, council voted 4-3 in favour of supporting the staff recommendation requiring a series of zoning amendments with Helena Konanz, Andre Martin, Judy Sentes and Mayor Andrew Jakubeit voting in favour.

"I see this as an enhancement to the area," Konanz said. "We're told constantly we need more densification so housing can become more affordable. This is a thoughtful design and it will work well in the neighbourhood."

Our new look includes improved navigation, providing a better platform for you to understand our wide range of services, view our project portfolio, and stay up to date with new exciting things happening within our company.

Take a moment to check out the 'Panelize It' tab located on the top right of the menu bar. We showcase a 2,052 SF home constructed within 16 days, using our panelized building process. At Radec Group we believe there is 'A Better Way to Build'. Our panelized home building process meets or exceeds all building code requirements and we have the flexibility to customize designs to your building lot and particular needs.

GoodLife Fitness is bringing new life and energy to the historic downtown Bank of Montreal building that’s been mostly vacant for several years.

On Tuesday, the company opened its newest Calgary location, inside the Stephen Avenue building that includes Manitoba Tyndall limestone, Corinthian columns and a number of other unique architectural features.

“We wanted to build something where everyone would go ‘wow,’ ” Good Life owner David Patchell-Evans said of the 20,000-square-foot location.

“I thought if we could take this heritage building it will reflect the established nature of our business — 35 years in business — at the same time we would put the best equipment in it. It’s really reflective of Calgary — quality,” said Patchell-Evans.

It worked with Square Feet Design Group Inc. and Trigon Construction Management for more than a year restoring the building’s mezzanine, main floor and basement. It protected the unique decorative features including 35-foot ceilings with rosettes and 917 ounces of gold leaf, marble floors, decorative mouldings and original chandeliers.

“We developed brand new approaches to meet infrastructure requirements and ensure the heritage elements of the building would be conserved,” said Lori Ireland, of Square Feet Design.

“GoodLife took great care to rebuild many of the interior historic features and uncovered beautiful decorative elements in the process. One of the washrooms is actually built inside an old bank vault. It was well worth the extra effort.”

The Bank of Montreal building was built in 1931. Music and electronic retailer A&B Sound operated out of the building for 10 years before vacating the location in 2005.

“It’s a key to the (Stephen Avenue) mall,” said Maggie Schofield, executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association. “Anything that is on the corner is really important from how people enter the area. So we believe this to be a very critical reopening. It’s been a long time coming.

“A fitness application is very, very creative. It will really add more vitality because it’s not only open during regular business hours but it’s open in the evenings and it’s open on the weekends.”

Earlier this week, I had written about my regular column and was about to hand it to my editor, when I thought I should add a picture to strengthen my case.

My column was going to be about my dissatisfaction that the iconic Bank of Montreal building on Stephen Avenue would soon be the home to yet another GoodLife gym. While I was worried about further provoking the bike lane-weary Calgary Downtown Association, I was disappointed that such a beautiful and historic building would now be home to people who act like they’re too good to eat Big Macs.

The column was done. It was ready to go. So, on Wednesday, I went down to the building to get a photo of its exterior. As I was taking photos, a man walked up and asked what I was taking photos of. I vaguely told him that I was writing about the building and he said, “Well, do you want to come in and see what it looks like?”

Without even meaning to, I had entered enemy territory.

As it turns out, the man I was talking to was Blair Higgs, the project foreman. He was that kind of nice that I’m just going to go ahead and assume that he’s from the Maritimes.

He brought me in through the side door and while the gym isn’t scheduled to open until September, the future home to countless treadmills is already a sight to see. The two-storey columns, the gold-plated ceiling, and stunning windows were breathtaking. He pointed out that the building would maintain many of the bank’s original features, like its steel doors.

I immediately felt guilty. Here was this very nice man who thought I was going to write a positive piece about a project he was very clearly passionate about. He was so kind-hearted that he never assumed otherwise. (It’s probably a trait we should all try to adopt.)

Regardless of my original intent, it was hard to ignore the beauty of the project that’s still months away from completion.

I coyly asked him more about fitness centre. I was curious why it took so long to find a tenant for the building, which had been empty since 2005 when a&b Sound closed its doors. He said it was because it’s hard to find a business that can take on such a huge space.

Then it struck me. I’d have to re-write this column. I was going about it all the wrong way.

Being cynically selfish, I was mad that the 80-year-old building was being turned into something that I will never use. But, just because there will never be a gym membership with my name on it, does that mean other people shouldn’t get to work out in what could be considered the nicest gym of all time?

At least it’s not being turned into a trashy bar or any other business that might have covered up the big windows or stunning ceiling. GoodLife is embracing the building’s elegance, which is all I could and should ask for.

I hope Higgs doesn’t get in trouble for showing me his site, because, even though he doesn’t even know it, I’m now going to be the project’s biggest supporter.

CALGARY - The historic downtown Bank of Montreal building, which sat vacant for more than 10 years, is springing back to life and will be the future home of GoodLife Fitness.

Just recently, Seven Generations Energy took over office space of about 25,000 square feet on the third and fourth floor of the building, at the corner of 8th Avenue and 1st Street S.W., and GoodLife will be setting up operations hopefully by the summer on the mezzanine, main floor and basement in about 24,000 square feet of space.

Maggie Schofield, executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association, said the downtown corner is an important one along the Stephen Avenue corridor and it’s exciting to see a heritage building come alive again.

“It’s an extremely vibrant area and a really important corridor and (the building has) been a real blight on that corner and it’s such a shame because it’s an extraordinarily beautiful building,” said Schofield. “It’s been an area where we’ve had issues with crime and vandalism . . . We are absolutely delighted to see that someone has embraced the building and is going to make it viable once again.

“The active use is such an important piece on the corner and on Stephen Avenue. A fitness facility may seem like an unusual execution of that building but from our perspective it provides non-standard business hour activity. So it will be open during the day but when you’ve also got weekends, evenings, and early mornings it creates that buzz and has people coming and going. It makes it more vibrant.”

A&B Sound was the last business to operate at the location, more than 10 years ago. The building, built in 1931, is owned by Steiner Properties.

The limestone-clad building features Corinthian columns, inside and outside, a 35-foot coffered ceiling in gold leaf as well as extensive use of marble.

Sue Chambers, vice-president of operations for GoodLife Fitness, said it’s going to take the company longer to build a club on the site than it normally does because of the building’s historic nature. But it’s shooting for an opening in June.

“We’re maintaining everything in it. It’s going to be our flagship club,” said Chambers. “It’s going to be a very unique club for us to build but it’s going to be the most beautiful club that we have.

“It’s hard to find that perfect location . . . We’ve been looking I bet you for five or six years for a downtown location . . . It’s just the perfect location. Everyone can walk to it. It’s just easy access. Right off the street. Great visibility. It’s so central. It’s just going to meet all our needs and to get a club downtown that size so we can have all of our facilities in there.”

The company has about 300 locations across Canada. Currently there are 12 clubs in Calgary and two in Airdrie. Another club is opening in Cochrane Wednesday. There are three more in Edmonton and one in Lethbridge.

Bernie Bayer, president of the Taurus Property Group which leased the retail space in the building, said the introduction of GoodLife will ‘re-energize” the downtown corner.

“It’s going to be another reason for people to go there,” he said. “I think we’ll see a lot more pedestrians on Stephen Avenue as a result.”

In recent years, the building underwent a massive multimillion dollar restoration.

Aly Lalani, vice-president/partner with Colliers International, which leased the office space in the building, said the third and fourth floors of the building were completely re-done.

According to a Herald heritage column in 2003, the building was described as neo-classical, clad in Manitoba tyndall stone. “Ashen green was the dominant colour in an opulent interior . . . The main entrance was framed in blue marble and crowned by a clock in a blue-and-white marble setting. Identical brass sculptures in the shape of classical Greek lamps stood on both sides of the doorway. Walls, floors, columns and counters were finished in four types of marble . . . The most impressive feature was the coffered ceiling with its moulded plaster rosettes encrusted with 917 ounces of gold leaf.”